Gingham

Ageless and fresh, gingham has an endearing naivety that makes it ever popular.

It is a plain-woven fabric made from dyed cotton or cotton-blend yarn. Many believe that the name for the fabric was derived from Italian, while others believe the term gingham is of Indonesian origin, more specifically from the Malay language. Both the possible Indonesian and Italian roots are agreed that the term originally referred to stripes. When originally imported (in the 17th Century), gingham was created by using two different coloured fibres to produce a striping effect. It was from the mid 18th Century, when gingham was being produced in the mills of Manchester, that it was developed into a checked or plaid woven pattern (often blue and white). It was therefore over time that "gingham" became associated with the check pattern we know today.

As a fabric that has a long history of usage, gingham remains extremely popular as it is smart and versatile, perfect for town or country. As a lightweight, durable and easy to clean fabric option, gingham is a great choice for household linens such as bed linen. Gingham today is produced in cotton, synthetic fibre blends and even in man-made fibres. It is made of carded or combed, medium or fine yarns, where the colouring is on the warp yarns and always along the grain. Gingham check has no right or wrong side regarding colour, woven in pure cotton percale it appears to have a flat luster. The bed linens are cool and crisp yet soft for luxurious comfort. You simply can't go wrong with these classic, versatile linens.